Ecuadorian Birds – Name that Bird!

Tags

A Little Blue Bird Told Me, Ecuador Birds, Identifying Neotropical Birds, Property for Sale near Mindo Ecuador

 

Reference material for the female racket-tail hummingbird doesn’t show a racket ‘tail,’ and the male doesn’t have the white breast… Thanks in advance for a proper ID!   When illustrated reference books seem lacking for details,  I often check Nick Athanas’ Antpitta site.. Check out his magnificent portraits of Neotropical birds.  (Antpitta.com – Booted Racket-tailed Hummingbird)

While updating the bird list for the property, I was pleased to count over 90 species of birds – and the ones that live on the other 95 hectares are still unrecorded!

Calling all birders – can you help with identification for any of these UFBS – Unidentified Flying Birds?    I will be offline until next week but look forward to your feedback.

Let’s look at those birds!

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Timeout for Art: Painting for the Joy of Painting!

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Handpainted floors, Timeout for Art

 

“Yes, I’ve made a great deal of dough from my fiction, but I never set a single word down on paper with the thought of being paid for it … I have written because it fulfilled me … I did it for the buzz. I did it for the pure joy of the thing. And if you can do it for joy, you can do it forever.”

Stephen King

I’ve spent months painting the floors where I live, and I often chuckle and say, “I spent X-amount of time on a painting I can never sell!” That’s OK, because working out the design, the correct proportions and building layers of colors are all important challenges, and I learn what works and what does not work.

Timeout for Art: Living a Life

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hand-painted floors, Timeout for Art - Living a LIfe, what to do with ugly office space

I am interested in art as a means of living a life; not as a means of making a living. (Robert Henri)
Reaching far back into childhood memories, I fondly recall a fishing moment with my sister Helen. Eight years older than I, she was the master fisherwoman, and I was the novice.  In order to secure the john boat against the outgoing current of an oxbow lake, she leaped from the bow of the boat to the muddy bank where the oxbow lake joined the Mighty Mississippi River. Instantly, her feet and lower legs vanished into the icky muddy bank.

She didn’t chuckle. She laughed. An uninhibited belly laugh emerged from her soul as she attempted to pull her feet from the muck!

Would you care to guess what this moment was about?  (I helped him un-stick the electrical tape!)

I often find myself knee deep in surprise moments here in Ecuador, and following Helen’s example, I try to embrace those experiences. Trading the quiet backdrop of the river for a forlorn third-floor fixer-upper in the middle of town, I’ve been busy living a life while making a living this past week!

Timeout for Art: Blocks

Tags

Drawing, magic carpet, Painting, Timeout for Art Blocks

A simple line drawing, photographed (gray) and converted to black and gray.

“When I can’t paint, I can draw, and this simple but very powerful tool gets me back to the very door of creativity.”  (Pat Corbin Henson)

Sometimes when I find myself going ’round in circles, I look through my archives and play with the designs waiting in limbo.   Rolling this drawing into a ‘bronze’ application on Irfanview provided a much-richer work of art with zero effort!

After tossing around options on the computer, I am usually eager to return to my pencil, which in turn preps me to return to my paints!

Timeout for Art – No Rehearsals

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art by Lisa Brunetti, concrete floors, Energy before a storm, old furniture makeover, porch balcony projects, Timeout for ARt No Rehearsals

Picture perfect afternoon! Surely the skies will be clear for days?

Talent renders the whole idea of rehearsal meaningless. When you find something at which you are talented, you do it – whatever it is – until your fingers bleed or your eyes are ready to fall out of your head. (Stephen King)

As if to compensate for the most-recent 2-day power outage,  a burst of energy kept me working at full throttle for the past several days.  After painting touch ups on the wooden balcony floor, I protected it with two coats of a transparent sealer.   Between coats, I painted the inside panels of the balcony white, then rolled a medium to light blue and then a lighter blue over that.

The little built-in bench looked quite anemic beneath the colorful moon window, so i painted the back a pastel orange and the seat area in light blue/green colors.    As the afternoon progressed, I added more depth and movement with strokes of color.

This Week’s Window Views!

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hand-painted floors, Views from a window, Views of the River from a window, WordPress Photo Challenge Windows

My my my!  Views from my windows this week reveal society in the front and side views!   Because the large boulders are unstable, I sometimes fear for the safety of the fishermen.  Last week a sense of foreboding washed over me when I saw three young boys fishing from the rocks.  I insisted that they leave, and that night, the rocks fell from that very spot!  The next day slightly-older fishermen were there, and one refused to leave.  Sigh.

Rocks that fell the night before…

Views from my windows also revealed a large orange surprise that might offer another explanation for power outages!  This orange surprise will be working here for a few weeks.

The orange tree-gobbling monster also has a tag-along work crew:

Timeout for Art: Magic Swirls

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art by Lisa Brunetti, painting old wooden floors, the magic of spirals, the magic of swirls, Timeout for ARt: Magic Swirls

“Magic swirls about us like an invisible fog of energy that can be tapped by those gifted enough, using a variety of techniques that center on layered spelling, mumbled incantations, and a burst of concentrated thought channeled through the index fingers. The technical name for this energy is “variable electro-gravitational mutable subatomic force,” which doesn’t mean anything at all–confused scientists just gave it an important-sounding name so as not to lose face. The usual term is “wizidrical energy,” or simply “the crackle.”
Jasper Fforde, The Song of the Quarkbeast

Those who know me well will agree; there are times when magic seems to swirl around me like an invisible fog of energy!  As I’ve mentioned before, batteries in watches usually self destruct within weeks;  elevators and copy machines sometimes malfunction when I punch the buttons.  Electric car windows stop working.  Sometimes street lights flicker off or on when I walk beneath them.

Magic Carpet Airlift!

Tags

imaginary escapes, magic carpet ride, what to do for cabin fever, winter storm jan 2014

Applying magic to the fibers of the carpet!

Tropical drinks for everyone!

Zeebra Surprises

With the cold weather sweeping across the Northern Hemisphere, I wish that I could fly you to the tropics or somewhere – anywhere other than where you’re cold and miserable and enduring brutally-extreme temperatures. Galleriaredelius’ brilliant mind of a jewelry maker commented on yesterday’s post: “As for the music, how about this new interpretation of Fly me to the moon, by Anna Ternheim”

I wish that I could fly you to the moon, but my budget will not allow that kind of extravagance! I can, however, take you on a cyber-reality magic carpet ride!  After all of the hard work and suffering that Barb sacrificed to help paint magic dust into this work of art, it needs a checkout flight at least every six months… and it’s been six months since the last one!

What? No pizza?!

Connections are slow, so there won’t be a Rescue Command Center to coordinate emergency airlift itineraries to any of you who are snowbound and have cabin fever.   The Magic Carpet is undergoing preflight tests and will soon be making a round-the-world swoop!

Timeout for Art: Total Immersion in Color!

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paintings by lisa brunetti, quotes by van gogh, stress during holidays, taking time for yourself, Timeout for Art - Immersion in Color

“As you can see, I am immersing myself in color—I’ve held back from that until now; and I don’t regret it.” (Vincent van Gogh)

December often crams our lives with tasks and obligations that prevent us from taking a timeout for ourselves. We dart and dash from home to work to social gatherings and events, and we return home to unfinished tasks. Which balls do we drop while juggling too many, and what triggers us to throw on brakes and claim a timeout for ourselves?

El Matal Ecuiador – having fun with color!

Although my life is fairly uncomplicated, the past few weeks have kept me rolling with little time for art. Even though hurried, I am always calmed and grounded even if I only have ten minutes to apply a bit more color to a painting before dashing out the door. I am instantly focused and grateful that I have found an outlet that grounds me in hurried times.

Inside – Construction in Reverse

Tags

Friendship, memories, tearing down property, tramites, Weekly Photo Challenge Inside

Removing palm thatch roof – peering inside

This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge showed an image of rebar – called ‘varillas’ in Latin America, and it reminded me of a project from the past two weeks.  Last week I was given a great lesson in construction in reverse fashion.

Because of pending regulations in the maritime zone of Nandayure Costa Rica, I had to tear down the thatched-roof rancho in order to move forward with a concession for new construction.   In four days, workers demolished a property that held almost ten years of Zeebra memories.

Which Way is North?

Tags

acrylic paintings, copyright lisa brunetti, Hand-painted concrete floors, Lisa Brunetti art, Wordpress photo challenge Focus, z designs, Zeebra Designs

This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge is Focus; “…For this challenge, get out there and take a picture demonstrating the concept of focus.”

Each week I photograph the progress on the compass design (painted on concrete floor) from several vantage points, so with pleasure I present the almost-finished design from many-different angles.

Because this is a floor, I keep asking myself, “Lisa!  Are those little bitty details really important?”

Timeout for Art: Compass

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Compass, Hand-painted concrete floors, Interior design, Lisa Brunetti art, Mosaic work, Problem floors, Timeout for Art Compass, Tromp L'oeil on floor, What to do with an ugly floor

“I don’t want technology to take me so far that I don’t have to use my brain anymore. It’s like GPS taking over and losing your internal compass. It’s always got to be tactile, still organic.”
Andrew Bird

Years ago I worked in a design studio for a company that produced custom carpets for hotels, movie theaters, casinos and private businesses.  Every so often we received an order for a hand-made rug, and the pattern had to be drawn on a huge canvas that was stretched to correct proportions in the warehouse.   To my amusement, most of the younger designers were graphic art whizzes, but their drawing skills were horrid!   I quickly became the hand-made rug specialist, and I would leave a note on my desk, “Gone to the briar patch! – ‘Brer Rabbit.’

How I loved the challenge of using my math and drawing skills to transfer a complicated design onto a giant canvas, then color code the areas to be filled in by another person!

I still enjoy using my internal compass to draw a complicated design on a forlorn concrete floor and watching the room slowly transform!   These photos illustrate one of several projects that tested my drawing skills this week.

Orderly – Daily Prompt

Tags

Bodega floor, Lisa Brunetti art, painted images on concrete floors, what to do with an ugly concrete floor, wordpress daily challenge orderly

The Daily Prompt states:  Photographers, artists, poets: show us ORDERLY.

Easy!

Two days of hard work equals amazing progress!

Searching for good squeeze bottles for the paint, we found a supply that came with free drinks!

When I hit a slump in inspiration, I paint rocks and am magically back on track!

Sneak peek! The next project is coming soon! Yes, that’s paint!

Would anyone care to guess what this (above) will be?  It’s painted on the next section of the bodega floor and will help with navigational skills for the magic carpet!

Have a great weekend everyone!  I’m heading out for a walk on the farm!

Z

Helping Hands

Tags

Acrylic Painting, Creative Group Projects, Daily Post, Daily Prompt: Helping Hands, i can do this painting workshops, Images of Hands, Lisa Brunetti art

Today’s Daily Prompt states:  
Tell us about the most surprising helping hand you’ve ever received.
Photographers, show us HANDS.

Hands?  Do I ever have an assortment of images of hands!

Enjoy!

New Friends, New Memories – Part 01

Tags

Canoa Beach Hotel, Ecuador Expat Journeys, Hand=Painted Concrete Floors, jama ecuador, Jonathan Hall, Sarah Dettman, The Magic Carpet Bodega Floor, What to do in Manabi Ecuador, Where to stay in Canoa Ecuador

“What’s cooking, Ramon?”

May 2013 – Manabi Ecuador

Last Friday I traveled up the coast and met Sarah Dettman and her Ecuador Expat Journeys group in the coastal town of Pedernales.   Driving south, we crossed the line of the equator and kept rolling until we reached the petite beach community of La Division, about a mile from where I live.  In addition to having a picnic, we learned why almendros are so expensive!  A lot of work goes into retrieving the nuts!

Holy Piso, Batman, The Bodega Floor is Finished!

Tags

Hand-painted concrete floors, hangar doors, Lisa Brunetti, magic carpet, the magic carpet floor, what to do with an ugly room

Holy Piso, Batman, The Bodega Floor is Finished!

Yes, ‘Stage One” of the bodega floor is finished! The first coat of a non-yellowing “laca poliuretano para pisos” is now drying, and the floor will be ready for its first inspection tomorrow! My friend Sarah Dettman and her tour group of 20 will stop by the house to for a sample of my life here on the river.

It’s not fair to let them see this floor before all of you in the cheering section!     The only problem is that Barb is not here for a celebratory test drive on the magic carpet!

Rabbit Rabbit & May Day!

Tags

concrete floors, good luck traditions, hand-painted floors, may day, rabbit rabbit, rabbits, the magic carpet, the morris dance

Rabbit Rabbit! Happy May Day!

Painting late into the night and into the wee hours of the morning, I realized that a new month sneaked up on me! The good luck first words of the day, Rabbit Rabbit, ran through my head!   How many of you practice that tradition on the first day of each month?

This cute black and white rabbit roams the grounds of Hacienda Guachala in Cayambe Ecuador.  It hip hops along the GPS point of latitude zero – how magical is that?!

Rabbit rabbit, have you ever heard of the Morris dance?

Today is also May Day, and many schools will hold activities in celebration of the outdoors.  I will never forget when I worked in a design studio for a UK company, and one of our very-reserved supervisors broke out in an impromptu Morris dance!  I will forever treasure that memory!

Hummingbird’s Postcard!

Tags

Barbara Seibel, Bodega Floor Magic Carpet, concrete floors, Guayaquil Malecon, hand-painted floors, Travel Ecuador, What to do in Jama Ecuador, where to eat in jama ecuador

Barb at Punta Prieta, just up the coast from the town of Jama

My trail is about to take me out of town for a few days, so enjoy this final postcard from Barb!  See you when I’m back on Wednesday!   Z

(From Barb)

Dear fans of “Zeebra’s Designs and Destination.”

WOW!!!!! I must say I am not only amazed but also totally overwhelmed with the response that Lisa has received on her WordPress Blog concerning the Zeebra’s Flying Carpet’s Post Cards.

Thank you everyone for the encouraging comments and well wishes through all of our journey on the “Carpet”. What fun we had. Lisa has such a great spirit, (as you all have seen) energy and love that it’s easy to catch it from her…..and that I did.

I left Ecuador with a lot of fond memories and a little sadness at having to leave Lisa and “The Riverhouse.”   However I will cherish all of those memories, new friends, not only from the towns we visited, but Lisa’s Blog as well.

Buen Viaje, Barbara!

Tags

concrete floor designs, I can do this painting workshop, jama ecuador, Life in rural Ecuador, manabi ecuador, Painting concrete floor, what to do with an ugly concrete floor

Sunset Rio Jama

Approaching the midnight hour, I’m wading through photos from the past three weeks of Barb’s visit.  At times this rural life on Ecuador’s Pacific coast seems like a blend between outdoor survival school and an arts camp!   Barb  learned how to blend washes of transparent color on a painting, how to combine colors, create tromp l’oeil/fool-the-eye effects and how to use geometry to transfer a sketch to a larger surface.

Night heron with fish!

She’s learned that the river birds chatter throughout the night, that mosquitoes will find you, (so will curious snakes and frogs!) and that the equatorial sun bites fast!  In addition to shelling fresh peas from the garden, Barbara also experienced a unique vegetable that the locals call ‘achojcha.’

Achojcha and Lima beans bask in the equatorial sunshine.

Barb now understands that perfection in art often robs a painting of its freshness and spontaneity.  She also understands the need for breaks from intense painting sessions.   A few days ago we took a break and watched my friends harvest a shrimp pond near the Riverhouse.

A Hummingbird for a Hummingbird!

Tags

acrylic paintings, art by Lisa Brunetti, Hand-painted concrete floors, I Can Do This

Searching for good squeeze bottles for the paint, we found botttles that came with free drinks!

(Ecuador)

The last few days were busy ones as Barb and I worked on several projects.  Barbara is a spark plug of energy, and I dubbed her Hummingbird years ago!  She zips back and forth, requires many little feedings, recharges her batteries and continues to flit from task to task!    Although she might crash late at night, she’s cheerfully awake at dawn and resumes her high-energy embrace of each day!

Guess what we’ve been painting?

While working on the bodega floor, I suggested that we halt work and switch to a painting for her home in the Republic of Panama.   No subject could trump the hummingbird theme, so after looking at many images, we combined several to create a hybrid hummingbird!

Postcards From Zeebra’s Flying Carpet #5

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guava leaf tea for diarrhea, Hand-painted concrete floors, l, painting concrete floors, postcards from zeebra's flying carpet #5, travelers diarrhea

Buenos dias from the land of unpredictable internet and electricity!  We not only lost power a few nights ago, but we’ve been enduring very poor internet service for the week so far.   Hopefully this post will find its way to you soon!

The floor-painting project continues to evolve as we approach the end of Barb’s third week here in Ecuador.  Her flight leaves on Sunday, and we find ourselves wondering how those three weeks flew by so quickly.  Then we look at the floor and smile!

Color: Bodega Floor – Details Take Time!

Tags

birds coming home to roost, festive drinks, hand-painted floors, hibiscus drinks, sunset on river, wordpress challenge COLOR

Silvana dropped by and added her special energy to the border!

The floor design strengthens with each day.  Barbara continues to keep the pace and endures long hours of painting!  She’s tireless and forever cheerful, and she quickly switches to other tasks if I’m bogged down with meticulous attention to details on the floor.

This is surely the most lovingly-painted bodega door in the country!

My friend Silvana dropped by the house and helped with the border.  Before she left, we enjoyed a hibiscus/white wine/’agua con gas’ drink and then watched the birds come home to roost.

Lovely Multi-talented Silvana

Are you ready to see the latest images?!

Color? Me? Color? Yes!

Tags

Acrylic Painting, art by Lisa Brunetti, hand-paint, hand-painted floors, Lisa Brunetti, The Mola Series, Weekly Photo Challenge COLOR

Did someone ask for COLOR?!!!

While working on the painting of the magic carpet on the bodega floor, I dashed upstairs to send a quick email.  There in the inbox was the WordPress challenge for ‘Color.’

I smiled and pondered,”Color?  Me?” and then I smiled.

‘Zeebra Rocks” on an explosion of red/orange – (Bookmark)

Hurriedly, I  rejoice that my eyes see in full glorious color, and I am pleased to share a few splashes from paintings that color my life!

While scrolling through  glimpses of some of my more-colorful works, enjoy a song by Don McClean that is often on my painting playlist.

Progress: Bodega Floor

Tags

Acrylic Painting, hand-painted floors, magic carpet ride bodega floor, painting concrete floors, what to do to an ugly room

Two days of hard work equals amazing progress!

A long day of painting can be quite exhausting, and Barbara clocked out and went to sleep hours ago!  Her batteries will be recharged in the morning, and mine will be dragging!    I think you’ll be pleased with the progress on the bodega floor.  Enjoy the photos!

Bodega Floor Improves

Tags

acrylic on concrete, barb seibel, creative ideas for ugly rooms, Hand-painted concrete floors, how to paint concrete floors, Lisa Brunetti art, magic carpet ride

Barb and I put in a long day of painting today and stopped around 8 tonight.  Barb passed on dinner and went straight to sleep!

After working on photos, I am now heading for slumber as well. Although we don’t have a flying-carpet postcard tonight, a unique flying carpet is materializing in the bodega!   Here are some photos that show the progress!

Postcards from Zeebra’s Flying Carpet #4

Tags

Hand-painted concrete floors, skillet pizza, what to cook when you have nothing in the kitchen

I get by with a little help from my friend!

Manabi Ecuador – Day 7 of Barbara’s visit

… I’m afraid we have a bit of a runaway train here…  I left Barbara with the finishing touches on the second application of black paint so that I could resume work on tonight’s pizza.    Living off the grid for a dozen years, I’ve ‘mastered’ the art of cooking in a skillet.  Every so often I burn the brownies or burn the bread, but usually the end result is a close facsimile to oven-baked food.    So instead of painting with Barbara, I am making sure that the pizza crust doesn’t burn in the skillet.

(I have a strong suspicion that Barbara might sneak over to my computer and type a side-story to all of you while I am cooking.  Hence the suggestion of a runaway train…)

Postcards from Zeebra’s Flying Carpet #3

Tags

Ecuador, hand-painted floors, La Division, painting concrete floors, Places to eat in Jama Ecuador, Postcards from Zeebra Flyinc Carpet 3, restaurant exclusivo jama, Restaurant Exclusivo Jama Ecuador, where to eat in jama ecuador

What are those women doing today?!!!

Thanks, everyone, for your great feedback about the Postcard series! Barbara has enjoyed riding copilot in the WordPress seat, and one of these days she might join us with tales of her own! The riverhouse sits ‘one curve back’ from the mouth of the river, and during the rainy season, an amazing amount of debris washes past the house and later finds its way to the Playamart shelves! As the pelicans fly, the beach is very close; by land, one walks parallel to the beach about a mile to that petite village of La Division.

Alison and the shoe thief! (La Division Ecuador)

Did anyone else see the face?

The shrimp ponds prove year-round feasts for the birds.

One feels as if time has stopped when Jaime, one of the lone icons on the river, passes the house in his primitive boat.

Jaime, one of my downstream neighbors, often sets out crab traps and promised to bring us five dollars’ worth manana.   Little did any of us know that strong rains were in our future!

Postcards from Zeebra’s Flying Carpet #2

Tags

Brunch, Hand-painted floor designs, Hibiscus Tea, jama ecuador, Mint Tea, Painting on concrete, Playamart, Postcards From Zeebra Flyinc Carpet 2, What is Playamart?, Wordpress challenge A Day in my life, Xavier Cevallos Jama Ecuador

Brunch with the Birds! *Hibiscus Ginger Tea” (Note beaded ‘arm bands’ are made by the Kuna Indians)

Manabi Ecuador –

Barbara and I continue to squeeze as much as we can into each day of her visit, and her remarks about what I consider a normal life make me realize that my life is far from the norm!

Barb:  “This morning I am handed a wonderful looking drink…..made up of whatever Lisa has on hand….I asked her what was in it, and she assured me I did not have to eat/swallow any of the debris  …..mmm I say….debris???  and she says yes….So my mind starts thinking of natural stuff she has in her little herb garden, which I’m a little apprehensive  as it could be anything…..mint leaves…other leaves …and well maybe a twig or two…only Lisa knows…So not wanting to hurt her feelings ….(I’m such a good friend)   I ventured into drinking it and guess what??   It was great…. liquids, leaves, twigs and all!!  I drank it ALL”

Zeebra’s 2012 In Pictures

Tags

2012 in Pictures, Don Koen, Flooding in Manabi Ecuador, Hand-painted concrete floors, Light Post Painting in Jama El Matal, Lisa Brunetti, museo bahia de caraquez, Museo Cancebi, Museo Portoviejo, Peace March, The Mola Series, Wear White for Peace, WordPress Photo Challeng My 2012 in Pictures, zeebra art

Reflecting on a twelve-month journey through WordPress.

WordPress tossed us a tempting challenge for this end-of-the year photo challenge.   With pleasure, I present some of the highlights of 2012.

This amazing tree was felled this past year.

The Magnificent Ceibos  Read about Ecuador’s amazing ceibo trees, cousins to the ceiba that grows in other parts of the tropical world.

Z for Zeeeeeeebra!

Tags

Frizztext Story Challenge Z, hand-painted floors, Zebra Art

Zeebra Rocks – Hand painted by yours truly for the Mola Series Exhibitions 2012

Frizztext’s Story Challenge has reached the end of the alphabet, and I had no problems finding images for the letter Z!   There are so many zebra options in my files for this week’s challenge, I will try to dole a few more out during the week.

Let’s go down the steps and see if we can find some z images to kick off the week!

Riverhouse Steps – One, Two, Three!

BAMBOO- A Natural Resource

Tags

Bamboo construction, Bamboo fence, bamboo siding, Jake's Sunday Post Resources, Thatch roof

Another drive-by shot captures this cliff hanger of a house!

For once, I will participate with Jake’s Sunday Post on the correct day!  His theme is  Natural Resources, an easy one for me on this quiet Sunday morning!  Although all tropical countries value bamboo/canya, the creative use of bamboo in Ecuador catches my eye quite often.

THANKFUL – A WP Weekly Photo Challenge

Tags

bamboo and palm thatch, Bamboo construction, bamboo fences, bamboo flooring, bamboo siding, hand-painted floors, Life in rural Ecuador

(Want a closer look at that 5-door pickup?)

In honor of holiday reflections, WordPress prompts us, “Share a picture which means THANKFUL to you!”

Since I’ve addressed this recently, I will share this image of my amazing nephew and point you to his story.  On a daily basis, his zest for life reminds me to be thankful for the life that I have, and to embrace every moment with a positive attitude.

Don Koen of Little Rock, Arkansas, zippping through Costa Rica’s tropical landscape!

P is for PAINTING!

Tags

Acrylic, Flickrcomments Story Challenge P, Frizztext, Hand-painted concrete floors, hand-painted designs on wood, Lisa Brunetti art, Watercolors

Frizztext tosses his alphabet challenge each Tuesday.   Pulling up from behind just under the wire with O for Olive Ridley, I am now slightly ahead with the prompt for P!   The tagword of “Painting” trumped Pelicans, Portoviejo, Pacific Ocean, Peace March, Photo Challenge and PreColumbian Art for a chance for the spotlight!

From the archives comes an eclectic assortment of paintings from a handful of years!  Rather than ramble on about my work, I’ll let the paintings take the stage!

This & That – October

Tags

balsa boats of Playas Ecuador, Ecuador, high energy and rain, High Fives & Flutterbys, John and Mary McDonald, painting concrete floors, Pelicans, Playas Ecuador, San Clemente Ecuador, This & That

Amigos!  How great it feels to be well and 100% Zeebra again!   Your get-well wishes surely helped speed my recovery!  Thank you!

Zeebra Frog – Copyright Lisa Brunetti

I am recharged and in full-throttle creative mode!  On Sunday and Monday I prepped five or six large panels for painting – (three to five coats each!)  With a wheelbarrow, I moved a dump truck load of earth and then transplanted small trees and flowers to better locations. These bursts of energy* usually precede heavy rains.  Over the years, friends have witnessed this strange occurrence and stated, “You might have warned us.”    (*Do you think that a subtle change in barometer triggers my creative output, or does my creative output discharge into the atmosphere?!!!)

Tornadoes, straight-line winds, 30 inches of rain in one week – those are some of the most memorable storms that followed an energy binge!  Many times after painting for ten or twelve hours, I put down my brush, and half an hour later the rains begin.  The rain seems to diffuse my energy, and later I have little desire to paint or shovel or scrub the house spotless!  Every so often when I realize that I’ve been rolling for hours, I pull in my reins and say, ” Uh-oh… prepare for rain.”

We received a barely-noticeable drizzle last night, and I smiled.   It’s the first in months.  Typical for the first rain after the dry season, we also lost power!    We will lose power a lot in the next six months, so when I vanish from cyberspace, suspect lack of electricity!

A repair & maintenance and improvement project kicked off today at the river house.

Hindsight: Custom Interiors & Floors

Tags

botanical paintings, custom interiors, hand-painted floors, painted concrete floors

WordPress has a fun Daily Prompt, which states, “Now that you’ve got some blogging experience under your belt, re-write your very first post.”

 Ladies and gentelmen:  I present to you the revised first page, posted about a year ago this week!  Thank you for your tireless and amazing support!  Z

I love the challenge of transforming ugly-duckling floors into lovely swans!

Someone asked if I would paint stripes on a mirror! Ha! If only all tasks were so easy!

Custom designs add a lot of character to a room. Stroll with me through a few creative projects and see if you agree!